Contact: Jeff Pattison, ext 7321, email: [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 The following decisions are sought:

That the Cabinet recommend the following to the County Council:


a. To approve the allocation of £10,000 to each member of the County Council to be utilised for community benefits in accordance with the protocol attached to this report at Appendix I.


b. To approve the process for handling budget allocation to members and the funding of community initiatives with delegation being given to the County Treasurer to approve the payment of appropriate funds from individual budgets allocated to members.


c. The Chief Executive to publish full details of all expenditure from the budgets allocated to individual members on an annual basis.


d. The scheme to be reviewed in 12 months and, if necessary, refined or withdrawn in the light of experiences.

2. Reason

2.1 This scheme is intended to enhance the role of all members, particularly frontline members, in their local communities, by providing them with a budget to make grants for initiatives in their Division which will benefit the community. The scheme is fully aligned with the County Council's corporate strategy, and in order to be successful all grant applications will have to demonstrate that they meet one or more of the Council's corporate objectives.

3. Other options considered and rejected

3.1 Models currently operating in other County Councils have been investigated, many of which have very high administrative costs. The model presented here is recommended, in order to maximise the amount of money that can be spent in the community, whilst at the same time ensuring that minimum legal and financial constraints for the Council and individual members are fulfilled.

4. Conflicts of interest declared by the decision maker or other Executive Member consulted - none.

5. Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee - not applicable.

6. Reason(s) for the matter being dealt with if urgent - not applicable.

Approved by: Date:

Councillor T.K. Thornber, C.B.E. - Chairman